Defense Distributed founder Cody Wilson has successfully fired the world’s first fully 3D printed gun this past Sunday. The only metal components were the firing pin, a simple nail, and the bullet round itself.

In March Defense Distributed were granted a licence to produce firearms and as predicted by their founder they have quickly produced a plastic weapon that can withstand the rigours of firing.

Defence Distributed founder Cody Wilson test fires the Liberator

The gun, named The Liberator, consists of 16 3D printed parts that were produced on an $8000 used Stratasys Dimension SST 3D printer bought off eBay. Only the firing pin and a piece of metal in the grip are the non-plastic parts. The metal in the grip was added so that it complies with current Undetectable Firearms Act legislation regarding a firearm’s ability to be detected by metal detectors, for example, in airports.

Defense Distributed have now made available on defcad.org the 3D design files for the Liberator allowing anyone with a 3D printer the opportunity to produce their own firearm. The story was first shown on Forbes.com and Greenburg pointed out that Defcad’s users that print out the design may not adhere to so many rules.

The Liberator has 16 3D printed parts

“Once the file is online, anyone will be able to download and print the gun in the privacy of their garage, legally or not, with no serial number, background check, or other regulatory hurdles.”, Greenburg added.

The gun has successfully fired a .380-caliber pistol round, as seen in the video below, but the gun blew apart when firing a larget 5.7 x 28mm defence found. Defense Distributed have promised to further develop the weapon and continue to publish the designs for all to download.